Question about MCACC

[admin_exported]

Just got a Pioneer LX53 and I have set it up using the Auto MCACC and the results are ok!

However do you think I would improve it my using the settings with the advanced (manual) MCACC to get the best out of the amp or do you need to be an expert?

Any advise appreciated

Ian

 

[DandyCobalt]

From my own experience (LX53, and before that... 2011) and the other feedback from this mag about the Pioneer MCACC, it is pretty good already through automatic setup, assuming you've placed the mic properly and there is very little ambient sound when you run the setup.

I like the option to configure diffferent memory setups on MCACC, depending on where you are sitting - we sit further back to watch on projector (MOVIE), than for standard tv (SOFA), or gaming on PS3 (up close on beanbag . The free Pioneer ipod touch/ipad app also allows you to adjust centre speaker and subwoofer, plus move the "sweet spot" from the comfort of your favourite chair.

 

[Anonymous]

I just use the auto mcacc on my SC-LX72, I am sure the boys at air studio and the sound engineers in pioneer know a heck of a lot more than me. LOL

Then all I do is watch a few blu-rays adjust the speaker level a degree here and there, and thats it, sorted.

 

[john1000000boy]

I fully trust mcacc. It is hard to trust.... as you always want to get the very best from the amp. I havent changed any of the settings since running mine. Well apart from the sub level!!

 

[Anonymous]

in regrad to channel level/Trim and distance you can allways tweak a little here and there and it woudn,t harm the over all accoustic result from the MCACC auto setup but in regard to the EQ -i would suggest if you don,t know what you are doing , than just leave it as it.s...sure you can still tweak the EQ to your liking, but it dosn,t mean that it,s performing it,s best ,again unless you have the right kit for the measurment and you know what you are doing.

 

[Anonymous]

I find the auto set-up very good indeed but have noticed that it gives you a very neutral sound. I suppose they design it so that the majority of people like it, some people prefer a 'sharper' sound, some prefer a 'warmer' sound and some prefer louder rears or subs. It's just user preference.

Pioneer has a cool feature where you can duplicate your MCACC profile onto another file. Just copy your 'MCACC 1' to your 'MCACC 2' and start fiddling with everything!

If you find you cant improve it then just go back to your 'MCACC 1' profile. No harm done!

Just have fun with it and see what you can do.

You never know, it could just make the world of difference.......

 

[Chewy]

I have found the MCACC set-up to be nothing short of excellent, by far the best and most comprehensive auto set-up on any amp I have owned!

As mentioned above, only thing I had to tweak was the sub level on surround sound tracks by a couple of dB.

 

[v1c]

The most usefull MCACC info i found was this.

1) Set Reciever to MCAAC preset 1 (M1). Now Run Auto MCAAC with
mic in you listening position (I taped the mic to the top of a two foot
long shoe horn, and stuck the shoe horn inbetween the couch cushions,
so the mic is right where my ears are during listening).

2) Go into Manual Sp Setup and change the SP settings if neccessary(crossover to 100hz for me and speakers to small)

3) Now re-run Auto MCAAC but select custom, and then select Keep SP settings.

4) Now you have an Auto MCAAC calibration saved to M1 (....note: you
must select which preset you want Auto MCAAC to save calibration data to
before you enter the audio setup menu.) Now go into Data Management--------> Data Copy and copy M1's data to M2 and also to M3. Now you have carbon copies of this calibration in M1-M3.

5) Now go into Manual MCAAC--->EQ Professional------>Reverb Measurement and get a reading on the the frequency response characteristics of your room. Be sure to select EQ OFF(standing waves not controlled for via MCAAC fliters) in the Reverb Measurement menu because
you don't want the standing wave adjustements (EQ on) to be factored in
to the room reverb measurments. Also make sure you haven't moved the
mic.

6) After test tones are done, go into Manual MCAAC--->EQ Professional------>Reverb View ,
and you can analyze the frequency response of individual channels at
various frequencies. Based upon that data, you would select the
appropriate capture delay time for MCAAC to capture data during for the
upcoming EQ calibration.

Change that time frame under Manual MCAAC--->EQ Professional------>Advanced EQ Setup to whatever you decide is the appropriate capture delay time ....(Pioneer recommends 30-50 ms,
but they encourage you to analyze the data under reverb view first and
refer to the advanced MCAAc software manual for analysis purposes).
Note: the default capture delay time is than 80-160 ms.

7) Change to MCAAC preset 2 (M2) before you run the new advanced EQ calibration with the new capture time. Go under Manual MCAAC--->EQ Professional------>Advanced EQ Setup to
start the advanced EQ calibration, and MCAAC should make a more
accurate calibration since it will now capture sonic information sooner
after the speakers output sound, and get a read on what the frequency
response is of the speakers themselves, and not the speakers and all the
reverb which accumulates as time passes. (Default capture time is
80-160 ms and thus collects more reverb and less true speaker reading)

Now you should have an accurate calibration. Also, now you can easily
compare the Auto MCAAC EQ effects that are stored in M1 with the
advanced EQ effects in M2 while listening to content with a simple
button press on the remote. You could also juice the base a few db in
M3, and also compare running the base a bit hot to a flat calibration
that you have in M1 and M2.

I was similar to yourself when i first did my LX71 as in it was OK and then i found the above and followed it. Made a big difference to me went from OK to being impressed as i thought i had just wasted money going from a Pioneer AX5i to the SC-LX71 but not now.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for all the advise, I will copy into another memory and try what v1c says and see if I can hear any difference.

Thanks v1c for the comprehensive instructions I will give it a go

Thanks

Ian